Air Quality Management Strategy

Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) is developing an Air Quality Management Strategy in response to evidence showing that locally elevated levels of ammonia and nitrogen deposition are harming sensitive habitats, creating an urgent need for coordinated local and national action to protect the Park’s special ecosystems.

ENPA is working in partnership with Natural England to develop an Air Quality Management Strategy for Exmoor National Park. UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) have done a review of the evidence and provided an Evidence Report to support the strategy and continue to work in partnership to deliver monitoring. DTA Ecology have used their expertise in air quality and the Habitats Regulations to draft a strategy to deliver improvements in air quality across the National Park.

What is the current situation?

Air quality within the park has undoubtedly improved since the 1970s, with significant reductions in emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides as a result of national initiatives. The historic reduction in emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides has resulted in a corresponding increase in the relative dominance of ammonia emissions as a pollutant of concern. The Evidence Report gives us a strong evidence base, showing that levels of pollutants (ammonia in the air and nitrogen deposition) are above levels which can cause harm in many areas of the National Park.

Whilst national initiatives are ongoing in relation to longer-range pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen as well as ammonia, the dispersion of ammonia and it’s impact is much more localised – we therefore have an opportunity to act locally to improve air quality as part of a coordinated delivery of local and national initiatives.

Why is this important?

High levels of ammonia and nitrogen deposition have a negative impact on our protected sites, for example algal ‘gunk’ on lichens within our important upland oakwoods. Ammonia can cause direct damage to lichens and bryophytes (including sphagnum which is integral to our peatlands and blanket bog) as well as contributing to high levels of nitrogen deposition. High levels of nitrogen are thought to contribute to Molinia (purple moor-grass) dominance, which impacts the condition of our important moorland habitats including blanket bog and upland heath.

What is happening now?

Stage 1 of the strategy combines three key elements:

1. Ensuring action is underway to put air pollutants on a downward trend

ENPA is working with partners in the public and private sectors to encourage and log actions underway.

2. Monitoring

ENPA is working with colleagues at UKCEH to install around 20 ammonia monitors across the National Park to undertake an initial 12 months of monitoring. This will help ‘sense-check’ the local levels against national modelling as well as help to target where support is most needed locally.

3. Changes in the way decisions can be made for planning

Once the strategy is finalised, development management decisions can be made in the context of the wider delivery of management and restoration measures. Which will streamline some decisions where impacts are limited. Further information will be available within the Strategy once published.

Stage 2 of the strategy will seek to implement further targeted improvements and provide support to landowners to deliver this. ENPA is seeking to work with partner organisations to help deliver this and deliver the best improvements for these important habitats and the community.

Where to find out more?

The Air Quality Management Strategy will be available here once published along with a shorter non-technical summary. For further enquiries please contact conservation@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

With thanks to Natural England for support and funding throughout this project.

Key Documents